Abstract

Technologies can be used as powerful cognitive tools when they are used, not for information delivery, but as instruments used by students to solve complex problems. A common way to use technology in universities is to use it to deliver information or teach concepts and skills (learning from technology). Another is to teach particular technologies and their uses (learning about technology). Perhaps the most powerful use of technology in higher education is where technologies are used as tools (learning with technology) in authentic learning environments. This paper argues that e-learning technologies afford the design and creation of truly innovative authentic learning tasks. The theoretical foundations of this approach are strong, and they are explored. A range of strategies are described that draw on principles of authentic learning, and they are illustrated with examples and activities from higher education e-learning contexts. Finally, the paper proposes that a more comprehensive approach to investigating the effectiveness of authentic learning designs can be accomplished through design research.